Mountain Crop Research Station, Sagam, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025, Jammu & Kashmir (India)
*E-mail: mashrafjs@gmail.com
Online published on 25 November, 2016.
Turcicum leaf blight, caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is an important disease of maize favoured by temperate climate. Understanding its variability is essential for the development of appropriate disease management strategies. Cultural and pathogenic variability of 12 isolates of E. turcicum from Kashmir was studied during 2014–15. The isolates showed variation in their pathogenicity as well as in colony characteristics and sporulation on potato dextrose agar medium. Growth of E. turcicum isolates viz., Kti-10, Kti-11, Kti-1 and Kti-2 was profuse and fast with excellent sporulation. The isolate Kti-10 (Larnoo) recorded the maximum per cent disease index (37.03%), Lesion size (8.42 x 0.95 cm) and shortest incubation period (4.07days). The present information will help in the selection of maize cultivars/lines with resistance genes for use in resistance breeding programme.
Exserohilum turcicum, maize, variability
